Solar air heater

Abstract

A method, system, apparatus, and/or device for preheating air for a rooftop air handling unit (RTU). The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include a barrier system configured to surround the RTU. The barrier system may include a structure to provide a frame for the barrier system, a first barrier configured to connect to a first side of the structure, and a collector configured to connect to a second side of the structure. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include a duct configured to connect between the collector and a chamber. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include a chamber configured to connect to an air intake hood of the RTU. The chamber may include a first opening to receive air stored in the cavity, a second opening to receive external air, and a diverter configured to switch between a first position and a second position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A solar air heating system, comprising:
 a solar collector defined by an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, a second side edge and a surface; 
 at least one layer of air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric secured over the surface of the solar collector; and 
 a slider barrier defined by an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, a second side edge and a surface, wherein the surface of the slider barrier is air impermeable, 
 wherein the slider barrier is configured to be slidably moved to a retracted position so that air flow is blocked by the surface of the slider barrier from passing through the at least one layer of air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric, and 
 wherein the slider barrier is configured to be slidably moved to an extended position so that air is free to pass through the at least one layer of air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric into an air chamber, 
 wherein, in response to the slider barrier being in the extended position, the air passing through the at least one layer of radiant heat absorbing fabric is heated as the air passes into the air chamber, and 
 wherein the heated air in the air chamber is then drawn through an air intake into a structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric disposed over the top side of the air collector is one of a plurality of layers of air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric disposed over the surface of the air collector. 
     
     
       3. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first end barrier; and 
 a hinge secured to the first end barrier and to a side wall of the structure, 
 wherein the first edge of the slider barrier is configured to be releasably secured to a distal edge of the first end barrier when the slider barrier is in the extended position. 
 
     
     
       4. The solar air heating system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second end barrier secured to the second end of the solar collector and to a side wall of the structure, 
 wherein the solar collector, the slider barrier, the first end barrier, the first end barrier and the side wall of the structure define the air chamber when the slider barrier is in the extended position. 
 
     
     
       5. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper edge of the solar collector and the lower edge of the solar collector are secured to a side wall of the structure. 
     
     
       6. The solar air heating system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an upper bracket secured to the side wall of the structure and the upper edge of the solar collector; and 
 a lower bracket secured to the side wall of the structure and the lower edge of the solar collector. 
 
     
     
       7. The solar air heating system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an upper slider rail that is secured to the side wall of the structure proximate to and just underneath the upper edge of the solar collector; and 
 a lower slider rail that is secured to the side wall of the structure proximate to and just above the lower edge of the solar collector, 
 wherein a length of the upper slider rail and the lower slider rail is approximately the length of the solar collector plus the length of the slider barrier, 
 wherein the upper slider rail and the lower slider rail are extend through the interior of the solar collector, 
 wherein the upper edge of the slider barrier is configured to slidably move along the upper slider rail, and 
 wherein the lower edge of the slider barrier is configured to slidably move along the lower slider rail. 
 
     
     
       8. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a strip of seal material disposed between the second edge of the slider barrier and the first edge of the solar collector, 
 wherein the strip of seal material is secured to a lower part of the first edge of the solar collector such that an outer surface of the slider barrier freely slides past the lower edge of the strip of seal material while maintaining at least a substantially air tight seal between the solar collector and the slider barrier. 
 
     
     
       9. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar collector comprises:
 a frame that defines the upper edge of the solar collector, the lower edge of the solar collector, the first side edge of the solar collector, the second side edge of the solar collector; and 
 a support lattice that defines the surface of the solar collector, 
 wherein the air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric is held in position by the support lattice. 
 
     
     
       10. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper edge of the solar collector is secured to a side wall of the structure and the lower edge of the solar collector is secured at ground level at a predefined distance out from the side wall of the structure, and further comprising;
 an upper slider rail that is secured to the side wall of the structure proximate to and just underneath the upper edge of the solar collector; and 
 a lower slider rail that is secured at ground level and out from the side wall of the structure proximate to and just inside the lower edge of the solar collector, 
 wherein a length of the upper slider rail and the lower slider rail is approximately the length of the solar collector plus the length of the slider barrier, 
 wherein the upper slider rail and the lower slider rail are extend through the interior of the solar collector, 
 wherein the upper edge of the slider barrier is configured to slidably move along the upper slider rail, and 
 wherein the lower edge of the slider barrier is configured to slidably move along the lower slider rail. 
 
     
     
       11. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first end barrier secured to the first end of the solar collector; and 
 a strip of seal material disposed between an edge of the first end barrier and the side wall of the structure, 
 wherein the strip of seal material is secured to the edge of first end barrier such that an outer surface of the strip of seal material freely slides past the side wall of the structure while maintaining at least a substantially air tight seal between the first end barrier and the side wall of the structure. 
 
     
     
       12. The solar air heating system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second end barrier secured to the second end of the solar collector and to a side wall of the structure, 
 wherein the solar collector, the slider barrier, the first end barrier, the first end barrier and the side wall of the structure define the air chamber when the slider barrier is in the extended position. 
 
     
     
       13. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the solar collector and a shape of the slider barrier resembles a portion of an arc. 
     
     
       14. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , wherein slider barrier is underneath the surface of the solar collector when the slider barrier is in the retracted position. 
     
     
       15. The solar air heating system of  claim 1 , wherein slider barrier is over the surface of the solar collector when the slider barrier is in the retracted position. 
     
     
       16. A method of preheating air using a chamber, wherein the chamber provides heated air to an interior of a structure, comprising:
 moving a slider barrier into an extended position, wherein the slider barrier and a solar collector cooperatively define the chamber; and 
 moving the slider barrier into a retracted position, wherein the slider barrier blocks air flow through at least one layer of air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric that is disposed over a surface of the solar collector, wherein a surface of the slider barrier is air impermeable, 
 wherein when the slider barrier is in the extended position, the air passing through the at least one layer of radiant heat absorbing fabric is heated as the air passes into the air chamber, and 
 wherein the heated air in the air chamber is then drawn through an air intake into a structure. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one layer of air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric disposed over the top side of the air collector is one of a plurality of layers of air permeable radiant heat absorbing fabric disposed over the surface of the air collector.